Hufnagel

by Tradition on May 5, 2008 12:32 PM EDT

How about John Hufnagel after JoePa?

With all the talk about eventual coaching succession, Hufnagel's resume is stellar. QB at PSU 70-72, I think sixth in Heisman voting. Played pro football 15 years, then coached Doug Flutie, and Jeff Garcia in Canada. Was QB coach for Peyton Manning; then Mark Brunell at Jacksonville, then QB coach for Tom Brady at the Patriots, onto the NY Giants as Offensive Coordinator 2004-2006 credited with Eli Manning's fast development. Do you sense a strong pattern here?!?! Now head coach in Calgary, probably left the Giants because Tom Coughlin felt threatened by his exceptional coaching talent. Somewhere I still have his chinstrap that he generously gave to a wide-eyed 10-year old kid in 1971.

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Good Find...

JayPa's resume isn't looking so good right now is it?

Hufnagel in '09!

by Stately NOVA Lion @ Black Shoe Diaries on May 5, 2008 2:53 PM EDT reply actions

as a Giant's fan

John Hufnagel was the worst offensive coordinator it has been my privilege to closely follow. Other then Johnny Lynn and JayPa, I can't think of a position coach/coordinator that did more damage to their team. I have no way of knowing who was responsible for a lot that went down, and granted this was play-calling for the NFL, which could translate differently to head coaching in D1, but the guy had zero ability to adapt in mid-game and relied on the pass WAY to much, causing to remember several times the Giants lost in my opinion because of the play-calling. The most egregious example of this was the Giants-Titans game two years ago. Going in to the half with a 21 point lead, the Giants threw a ludicrous 17 times in the half giving the Titans time to accomplish the comeback.
Despite having one of the best rushers in the NFL at the time, Hufnagel rarely ever called play-fakes, to the point I suspected he thought they were trick plays. As a result, Tiki's best seasons did little to take pressure off of Eli, and I would say stunted his development. It was the firing of Hufnagel, and more specifically to my eye, the complete gutting Hufnagel's old system after the 2nd Redskins game this season, that catapulted the Giants to the Championship. Prior to the Giants he was never a coordinator at any level, and as far as I'm concerned, regardles of playoff appearances he has had no success at that level.

by queler on May 5, 2008 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

I was gonna say

Didn't Eli pretty much suck until this year, which is after Hufnagel left?

And it's great that he coached Manning and Brady, but that doesn't mean he had that much to do with their development. In fact, I've never heard his name associated with either of those guys.

Who knows though, Pete Carrol wasn't much of an NFL coach either.

Get up State.

by speedomike02 on May 5, 2008 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree w/ queler

Lets get a big time college HC w/ some experience recruiting PA, OH, MI, NJ, NY areas and move this program in the right direction.

I am fine w/ GS or Golden.

Strike First...Strike Hard...No Mercy

by SweepTheLeg on May 9, 2008 10:32 AM EDT reply actions

Hufnagel?

These NFL guys usually have trouble at the college level don’t they? Too many years in the NFL. Also, didn’t Nick Sabin try to coach Miami, ouch. Outside the program, the choice is clear- Greg Schiano. Inside the program, the choice is clear-Tom Bradley. Some guys are just destined to be NFL coaches, and others are perfect for the college level. Nick Sabin for example, is right where he needs to be, Alabama.

by mr green on May 10, 2008 11:48 PM EDT reply actions